Public Policy Network

Having failed to enact health care reform, Washington is now turning to an even heavier policy lift, tax reform. Perhaps our politicians should consider how Peter the Great, who was Tsar of Russia for 43 years, used taxes to transform Russia into a modern world power (by 17th century standards). He expanded Russia's territory through 20 years of war, built a world-class navy, created infrastructure in the form of a national canal system, modernized Russian society and developed a capital and major port, Saint Petersburg, out of uninhabited wet lands - all without incurring any national debt.

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Baseball legend and philosopher Yogi Berra observed, "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." As everyone in Washington is trying to understand the new theory and practice of making policy in a town dominated by President Trump, new rules of engagement seem to come out of nowhere. It is not clear how long these emerging new rules will last. This no doubt frustrates senior legislators and keeps everyone guessing how major policy battles will play out.

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Some things in Washington have not changed with the 2016 election. The Capitals hockey team continues to flame out early in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the passage of all Federal appropriations bills, a central responsibility of government, continues to occur with strong bipartisan support. Appropriators, it seems, represent the last bastion of cooperation and concrete results in our nation's capital.

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Washington is on pins and needles. April in the nation's capital could be remarkably intense. If the Washington Capitals lose early in these Stanley Cup Playoffs - well, it will be time to thaw the ice and drain another swamp.

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The beginning of any new administration brings new agendas and approaches to governing, but the Trump administration has injected a remarkable amount of change in style and practice. This should come as no surprise to anyone since the president's promise to disrupt the regular Washington order is exactly why he won the election.

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In less than two weeks, President Trump has fulfilled his major campaign pledge to shake up Washington and change the way the government operates. That is exactly why many of his supporters love him. He already has political and business leaders in Washington and around the globe guessing what his next move will be.

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